Dear Editor,
GHK Lall, before criticising the handouts to hinterland citizens and farmers should first analyse the differences in terms of dedication, loss of time, sacrifices, risks and outcomes between the farmers, including fishermen, and those employed in the public and private sector.
I can emphasise with the farmers because in the fifties, I assisted my parents in farming and in the process was bitten on two occasions by water snakes, fortunately not a labaria, chased by an alligator, stung on numerous occasions by marabuntas, picked wiri peppers until I saw red and, nothing has changed since then to now where similar conditions abound.
That apart, a farmer works seven days a week with very little time for friends and family, toiling all day in the sun or rain to eke out a living while his efforts are subject to the weather as currently obtains, an infestation of pests and subject to theft.
So rather than spewing your usual nonsense, why not take a ride on a tractor with a farmer to the backdam at 4 am after using a stinking pit latrine filled with mosquitoes and experience the hazards of these farmers. You are probably aware of the young farmer who died recently when his tractor turned over.
With respect to the public sector, a larger percentage of the budget is allocated to sustain a black bureaucracy who mostly work for less than forty hours a week and enjoy the following:
1) security of tenure, cannot be dismissed at will
2) One month’s passage allowance at time of leave
3) Non-contributory pension scheme, payable at age 55
4) Average of four working days per week taking into consideration public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays, annual leave, sick leave, casual leave, maternity leave, special leave, etc
5) Guaranteed NIS pension at age 60 and old-age pension at 65 in addition to Government pension at 55
6) Unmeasurable time loss due to lateness, absenteeism, malingering, bathroom usage, gossiping, etc
7) Travelling allowance, duty-free concessions, tax breaks, and for some of the elites, maids, gardeners and security
8) Additional perks due to bribery
9) Yearly bonus for the security force
With respect to the private sector, prior to any increase, consideration should be taken of the prevailing circumstances where COVID and other factors devastated many businesses and a substantial increase will inflate employment costs that may result in further unemployment or increase in costs for goods and services.
So, rather than inferring your racial bias evident in your missive, do an objective analysis to determine who benefits more in terms of monetary awards, and at the same time supply evidence to prove that African farmers were deprived of the handout.
Sincerely,
D Singh
